August didn't start well for the West African crude oil producer. Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), one of the country's main trade unions, came close to industrial action last week over a staffing dispute with Chevron (CVX). NUPENG had accused the US oil major of dismissing hundreds of Nigerian workers and altering contracts. The union was ready to proceed unless all "NUPENG executives" returned to work within seven days. However, the union suspended its plan after talks with the state oil company.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ((NNPC)) commented that